World Wide Woozle - Albums that matter episode #1

Welcome

Welcome to an irregular series of posts about albums that matter. As with all my blog posts I am interested to hear from you with comments, questions or feedback. I'm not a professional writer however so there's no need to correct my grammar, style or spelling!

What's this all about?

I've written almost 650 blog posts about music, songs and my life. I started in 2007 and although there have been a few twists and bumps along the road, I've been writing for close to twenty years. The reasons for wanting or needing to write change from week to week. Often I'm writing for myself as much as for you, the reader and listener.

Last week I was blogging and listening to music when a track came on that floored me. I was instantly transported back to a particular time and place. I remembered listening to the album that the song was on over and over. Is it the greatest album of all time? Hardly. What I reflected on though was what the long player meant to me then and now.

As a result, I've decided to write about some albums that matter or mattered to me in one way or another.

Album #1: AC/DC - Blow Up Your Video (1988)

AC/DC fans will no doubt already be up in arms. The 1988 release is hardly well regarded and although it gave us two big singles, the rest is forgettable to most. Not to me.

In January 1988 I was going into my final year of school. My family had been in a state of change and I'd come back to Australia to live with my Dad. It wasn't an easy time for anyone. On the way home from Melbourne airport to Gippsland we dropped into a shopping centre. I knew that Blow Up Your Video had just been released and I was hoping that it would be in stores by now. At that time I was a massive fan of hard rock and heavy metal despite it really not being a popular form of music with other than one or two of my friends. I was ecstatic to get the cassette and Dad gritted his teeth and let me pop it into the car stereo.

Let me tell you about the car stereo. Back in the 80s, having a great car sound system wasn't all that common. Certainly only a few years earlier I'd been told that we wouldn't be playing the radio or cassettes in the car because Dad said it was distracting. Times change! This car had a two speaker system as well as receiving AM stereo which was brand new in Australia at the time (and didn't last). I loved to be in that car and listen to AM radio that wasn't the standard muffled mono sound. The cassette player was awesome too. It had separate controls for bass and treble, as opposed to a single tone knob, and that mattered to me.

So, in went AC/DC. I think Dad managed to cope with the first side before he'd had enough. In all fairness to him, this is before we really saw eye to eye on music to listen to, but that's a tale to tell another day about another special album.

In 1988 albums were precious. None of us had many and we shared and copied. My cassette carrier with its twenty cassettes was a prized possession. As a result, I got to be very familiar with those particular recordings as well as my small collection of LPs and 45 rpm singles.

In no time at all I knew the tracks on Blow Up Your Video inside out. I can still sing along to most of them now. In 1988 I'd stay up late for the few hours of MTV we got on a Friday or Saturday night in the usually vain hope of seeing AC/DC or anything close to hard rock. The clips for Heatseeker and That's The Way I Wanna Rock 'n' Roll were aired once in a blue moon. No-one I knew had a video recorder. I'm not sure that my school had more than one or two either.

I don't think there are any stinkers on this album, in fact the opposite. The guitars growled and roared in a way that they wouldn't again on an AC/DC record. The next album had a more commercial, almost processed sound and then after that the guitars, whilst still awesome, became cleaner. More Rolling Stones-esque than what we'd been used to. Brian Johnson (vocals) talks about the record being recorded in an old chateau in France. It sounds glamorous but in reality it was run down and spartan. Apparently the band couldn't wait to get out of there. As a result the album has a level of urgency to it. The AC/DC swagger is there in spades but there's also a menacing feel borne of a level of discomfort. I guess that edge to the sound resonated with me then and it still does.

Only four of the ten tracks on Blow Up Your Video have ever been played in concert by AC/DC. I guess that's an indication both of the strength of their catalogue but also of how much they maybe don't like the album.

Meanstreak is, for me, the one that they should give an airing once in a while. The intro riff reminds me of a police siren and the song has a wonderful groove that conjures up images of old cartoon crooks tiptoeing down a shady alleyway.

I still have Blow Up Your Video on that original cassette from 1988. I shudder to think how many times it was played at home and on my walkman clone. I've now got it on CD as well but it's not one I've managed to add to the collection on vinyl yet. I must remedy that one day soon. The album is a reminder of my final year at school and all that is part of that pivotal time. A very strong memory is listening to it on the bus on the way to school, hoping that the batteries in the walkman would last. My player had two headphone jacks so I would regularly be listening with my mate Paul. I'm pretty sure I didn't subject my Dad to it in the car again though!

Thanks for reading this,
The Woozle

World Wide Woozle episode #640

Welcome back enormous listening world. To paraphrase Bon Scott, if you want tunes, you've got it!

I started creating a playlist for this episode a little while ago. Whilst there's a theme, I won't make you guess. The playlist is here on Spotify.

There's no secret that I really don't like to dance. I always feel awkward, self-conscious and like I'd rather be anywhere else. I'm happy to stand or sit at a live show and I'll tap my foot, nod my head and sing along but I'm not dancing. At least not in public. When I was in Jindabyne recently I was pumping out some tunes and one made me want to throw caution to the wind and dance. So I did. This group of songs are the ones that I dance to when no-one is looking. These are the ones that make me smile and I hope you do as well. The episode is meant to be fun so click ALL the links (or the playlist) and get moving. Remember, no-one ever has to know!

First up, the song that made me want to move my body. This is also a really good fun song to play but I can't sing it for quids!

Bryan Adams, Mel C - When You're Gone - https://youtu.be/wB4fLBULvdE

SWOOP were around from '91-'99 and this track has always been a favourite of mine. The fuzzed out guitar solo is a killer and I really like the interplay between the two vocalists.

SWOOP - Apple Eyes - https://youtu.be/c2gvieJeKXA

The Party Boys had a rotating roster made up of the who's who of Australian music. Their 1987 album brought them a couple of hits and also the support slot for AC/DC's 1988 World Tour. The self-titled album was on high rotation with me all through my last year of high school. This is an old La De Da's song and Kevin Borich is in both bands. I just think it's a great rock and roll song. I was hooked from the first three descending power chords that come just after the introduction.

The Party Boys - Gonna See My Baby Tonight - https://youtu.be/wSpXFlh_47k

I missed the Skyhooks because I was a bit young and not living in Australia or paying attention when they were at their peak. That's OK, I've made up for it in recent years. For a while I thought they were a bit too glam for my liking and then I focussed on the tunes. There's a really good compilation of 70s Melbourne bands named after the next song. Two and half hours of bands like the Skyhooks, Daddy Cool, Jo Jo Zep, The Sports, and Mondo Rock. This CD turned me on to this track and subsequently more Skyhooks tunes. But yeah, it's another one that makes me want to get up and move.

Skyhooks - Carlton (Lygon Street Limbo) - https://youtu.be/rjVqGyxb_NY

I saw You Am I play live at the Livid Festival in Brisbane back in 1995 and they were woeful. Maybe they were just having a bad day in the brutal heat but I didn't hang around for much of their set. The same day I saw Supergroove, The Mark of Cain, The Cruel Sea, and Rollins Band play magnificent sets. I've not had the chance to see them again but live footage and longevity seems to suggest that they know what they're doing! This track, recorded live in 1997 for a programme in the Netherlands, is a great demonstration of indie pop. It's got a great beat, catchy melody and it's a toe tapper.

You Am I - Good Mornin' (live) - https://youtu.be/72YAhcRN62c

In 1992, Dan Baird (ex Georgia Satellites) released an album called, Love Songs For The Hearing Impaired. If good old fashioned rock and roll is your thing then this album is for you. It's full of tracks made for singing along to and possibly getting a little line dancing in as well. This one is a story in just a few minutes; it's just a shame there's no film clip.

Dan Baird - Dixie Beauderant - https://youtu.be/NyI4181J-Z4

Hands up who remembers when mobile telephones were carried around in a satchel and only rich people and posers had them? Me, I do. I also remember my good mate Vaughan and I managing a loan pool of them at work. Who was that senior officer who allegedly used his loaner to call x-rated phone lines?! Anyway, this song isn't so much about the advent of mobile telephones as it is about people changing and not always for the best. I saw Weddings Parties Anything at the Canberra Racecourse somewhere in the mid-90s and they were so cool. I loved, and still love, the Celtic and folk influences in their brand of Aussie rock and roll.

Weddings Parties Anything - Telephone In Her Car - https://youtu.be/tpTrjR0CFOk

Last year I saw The Darkness play here in Canberra. It was almost surreal to be in a smallish venue, up close and personal with such a big band. They have a lot of fun and make sure that their audiences do as well. As this song should indicate to you, they don't take themselves too seriously.

The Darkness - Friday Night - https://youtu.be/_MdSawNUEIk

This one shouldn't be a huge surprise to anyone who has been reading my blog for any length of time. It's been a while since I picked up a guitar but this is one of my favourite songs to play. It was great fun in a band and it's a cracker alone as well. Watching Jason and Sadler playing though I think I probably should be learning it in an open tuning. I avoided Super 8 motels in the USA but I guess it would've been amusing to go to one. Next time.

Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit - Super 8 (live at Red Rocks, 2024) - https://youtu.be/OAPT13PUqxM

I'm going to finish this little dance playlist with something from Kylie. I'm not too proud to say that very early on I didn't think much of her at all. But then it's easy to jump on a bandwagon without really making up your own mind. In the late 80s heavy metal fans did not listen to Kylie. Bollocks to that. She's awesome and this is a very fine track.

Kylie Minogue - Say Something - https://youtu.be/KMt8NbndXCo

Next time on The World Wide Woozle I'll be starting an on again, off again series of deep dives into albums that mean something to me. All that and the usual blabbing and a live gig review.

Keep smiling,
The Woozle

"We can dance if we want to
We can leave your friends behind
'Cause your friends don't dance
And if they don't dance
Well they're no friends of mine..."

Men Without Hats, Safety Dance, 1982.

World Wide Woozle episode #639

Hello out there all you radio fans.

At this time of year it is seemingly the done thing to look back on the year that was and also to have a think about the one coming. To be honest, if you've read this blog more than once or twice then you know almost everything about my year! I understand that not everyone wants or needs to read my self-reflection, feel free to skip to the songs.

Rollins Band - Low Self Opinion - https://youtu.be/VepuImWmH0o

2024 had some huge ups and deep downs as well. I've spent a significant amount of the year working hard to get my back sorted out. That was no fun at all but, touch wood, things are looking good. It's a combination of an excellent massage therapist (thanks Ken and Jo for the tip), loads and loads of walking, a bit less cycling, and tons of stretching and rehab work. There's no doubt that there were dark times over 2023 Christmas and New Year when I could hardly walk and was in constant pain. 

Pantera - I'm Broken - https://youtu.be/2-V8kYT1pvE

The other major thing that sucked was the realisation at work that my brain wasn't going to allow me to operate at a higher level for any length of time. That one hurt a lot. I know I've improved but the limit was most certainly reached. Props to my managers and co-workers for the support when I went back to my old level. It was a good move.

Primal Scream - Movin' On Up - https://youtu.be/UVm3mJPn5tE

Let's look at the good things then, because they are much more important. I have some awesome friends, got to see some good live music, did some dog sitting, my ability to read novels continues to slowly improve, work was generally pretty positive, I went on an epic holiday and my kids are happy and healthy. Yep, that'll do me.

Queen - The Show Must Go On - https://youtu.be/t99KH0TR-J4

I'm coming to you from Jindabyne in the Snowy Mountains. I'm here for a few days soaking up the mountain air and relative serenity. To be fair, it's only busy here down at the small shopping centre! I've done some hard, hard cycling and some decent walks as well. Today I plodded along for 21km which is my longest walk in a very long time. At least since I started keeping track back in about 2009!

The Ventures - Walk Don't Run - https://youtu.be/c2JhbC6NFJc

Farcebook let me know of another milestone today. The MacBook that the World Wide Woozle is produced on turned 10 years old today. I remember when Alison and the kids got it for me. It's still my first Mac and I still think it rocks!

Queensrÿche - I Dream In Infrared - https://youtu.be/JJowBTSh90E

My friend Suzy asked me about my goals for 2025 and I had to do some serious thinking. In 2024 I wanted to write in a journal every day and with only a few days to go that will become a reality. Sure, I've missed a day or two but I always went back and filled them in. It's been a good exercise in self-reflection even though I'm not always the best at being totally honest on paper; even with myself. A work in progress I guess. 

Billie Joe Armstrong - Gimme Some Truth - https://youtu.be/wB28KkGUg2o

My massage therapist told me that I need to work on my lats as another facet of making my back as strong as possible. So I guess that's going to need to be a 2025 goal. It might mean some time in the gym and up until now I've really hated gyms. But, there is a gym about a 3 minute walk from my house so I suppose I should go and talk to them. I know I'd much rather do almost anything else to achieve this goal but I'm not sure I can get there without a little push.

Skunk Anansie - Twisted (Everyday Hurts) - https://youtu.be/Zqe4NbLW7Ww

Another goal, that I don't really like, is around food. It's been a very up and down year for me with regards to eating properly and consistency is needed even if my stupid brain tries to derail that thought on a regular basis. And if I eat a little more I have to control the urge that has me out the door for another exercise session. Again, a work in progress.

Polish Club - Apples and Bananas - https://youtu.be/cDWWZKcl6FI

Reading more is my other 2025 goal. I've been gradually improving at this and now I think I just need to reduce the distractions and get on with it. I've definitely got loads of unread books just waiting for some love! TV and social media are my enemies here. The cathode ray nipple and the doom scrolling are getting the flick. I'm realistic though, they're not bad things in small amounts.

The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy - Television, The Drug Of The Nation - https://youtu.be/hD9pJzZ1XGI

And while it often feels easier for me to withdraw and seriously limit my connection with the outside world I do realise that the hermit life isn't all good for me. I'm doing my best.

Don't give up folks. Thanks for reading this and a big thanks to those who have engaged with the blog and also supported me through 2024.

I love youse all,

The Woozle

"Don't give up
'Cause you have friends
Don't give up
You're not beaten yet
Don't give up
I know you can make it good"

Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush, Don't Give Up, 1986.

World Wide Woozle episode #638

Hello from World Wide Woozle HQ. As always, sincere thanks for tuning in.

Yesterday I finished work for the year. That was a solid month of slogging after returning from leave. I think it was rather well planned to now have a few days off. I'm pretty fortunate in that I really like my job and work with a great team.

King Stingray - Day Off - https://youtu.be/9LQHkB3JgjM

King Diamond, who I saw live with DJ DJ at The Fillmore in Silver Springs, have a new single out. An album has been mentioned for many years and hopefully we'll see it soon. The band and stage set in the video here is exactly what we saw at the end of October. As is the norm, the band is tight, the guitars sound huge and you may or may not like King's vocal style. 

King Diamond - Spider Lilly - https://youtu.be/VIIIOwCPn_I

I've played a track from this album before but feel compelled to go again. This is a band with a million different sounds. They genre hop non-stop and it's a hoot. Get your groove on with this one.

King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard - Le Risque - https://youtu.be/Ik-gBAlEbQY

In Memphis, I took a walk up Beale Street. That's where this guy got his moniker and made a name for himself. Sure, it took U2 to bring his music to a whole new generation and a level of recognition that was well deserved, but BB definitely had the blues!

B.B. King - How Blue Can You Get (live 1985) - https://youtu.be/P27tTNP7SFc

In the mid 80s I discovered hard rock and heavy metal music. People come to classic music by any number of means and I eventually listened to Led Zeppelin as a result of the next band. Yes, yes, they are very derivative but they rocked hard and I still like it.

Kingdom Come - Get It On - https://youtu.be/k1OdgfEhzgM

I went to quite a few music based exhibitions in the USA. It seemed as if this band was being talked about non-stop. So I found a gap in my listening and I'm plugging it now. I know a lot of the songs but nothing much about the group.

The Kingston Trio - M.T.A. - https://youtu.be/7Tc1GUXxr2o

Well that's enough for another episode, just a quick one. Next time you can "look forward" to the Woozle 2024 review and a bumper Chritsmas stocking size amount of listening. For now I'm going bushwalking, braving IKEA very briefly and then going to the airport to collect Angus and Em!

Keep smiling y'all. Surely someone has noticed the rough theme in this episode!

The Woozle

"When We Were Kings
Of our own time
We started young
And hoped to climb
But seasons change
And so did we
Now we long for what
We used to be..."

Stryper, When We Were Kings, 2024.

World Wide Woozle episode #637

Hi everyone, welcome back and thank you for listening in.

This week my good friend Dave "Tanker" Matteson passed away. I was last with him on 18 November in Huntsville, Alabama when he dropped me at the airport to start my trip home. Less than a month later he's gone.

Dave and I first 'met' in 1997 in an online forum for GI Joe and Action Man collectors and we've been friends ever since. We emailed, chatted, and spoke on phone / video calls on a very regular basis. Dave was proud of his kids and loved his wife. He also served in both the US Army and US Air Force. He was called Tanker for obvious reasons; he worked with tanks!

As most of you will know, I got to finally meet him in person this year when I attended his daughter's wedding. Dave hadn't been well for a while and I will admit that I was shocked to realise how bad it was when I saw him. I guess like a lot of people my age he just didn't want to worry or burden others with what was going on. Dave, Rita, Katie and Maggie, treated me like family (and continue to do so) and it's a kindness I won't forget.

Whilst I am sad, no, devastated that my friend has died, my thoughts are with his family and friends. I think that it's also another reminder that our time on this earth is short and may well be shorter than we imagine.

I remember at Maggie's wedding that I was sitting with Dave, Rita and Katie. Dave had struggled all day with even the simple act of walking. He wasn't really up to saying much but did his best. He was almost asleep at the table and Maggie walked past. His eyes lit up and he called out, "I love you Maggie!" Nothing was going to stop him from celebrating his daughter's special day. Later on, as we left, he turned and said quietly to the entire room, "thank you all for coming, I have to be going now". It sounded a bit final and I guess it was.

As I exited the car at Huntsville airport, Dave gave me a hug and told me he loved me. He was my brother and I miss him.

Dave Matteson was 61.

Thanks for reading this.

The Woozle

 "Now the sun's gone to hell and the moon's riding high
  Let me bid you farewell, every man has to die..."

Dire Straits, Brothers In Arms, 1985

   

World Wide Woozle episode #636

Here is the weather forecast, as issued at 2315hrs Greenwich Meaning Time. Getrude, Fitzwilliam and I have been outside and it is pouring with rain!

Again the TV and airwaves are full of commentary regarding Spotify Wrapped; the yearly data dump that they do to let us know our music and podcast habits. I dunno, some of the results seem a little odd to me. I don't doubt though that I spend just over 72,000 minutes listening, but, whilst I do like them a lot, Cold Chisel wouldn't get close to my second most streamed band. I'm also reminded how little the actual artists are paid; a maximum of 0.003 cents per stream. So get out there and support artists in any way you can. If we don't then how can we expect new music? My top artists I hear you ask? AC/DC, Steve Earle and Stryper. That's not a shock at all, but then I did manage to listen to almost 7,000 songs from 1,796 artists.

The song I streamed the most is from Colin Hay and I have no arguments at all about this. It's a brilliant version of a great song. From the luscious guitar introduction, Colin's husky yet liquid vocals, and the delicate backing instrumentation, I think this is a real treat. The whole album is a ripper.

Colin Hay - Across The Universe - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P9Jf5YgKYo

George has re-released the video, and the behind the scenes footage, from Tiny Tin Town. It was a few years ago now but I really feel that the song stands up as a great example of Aussie rock and roll. I have fond memories of Tim recording the track with various members of the band setup, at different times, in George's lounge room. Tingha NSW is the tiny tin town in question and our time touring in that part of the world almost ten years ago was an unforgettable experience. My only regret about the whole song is that I recorded my guitar parts using a borrowed amplifier which I absolutely loved but baulked at buying at the time. Ah well, rock and roll dreams don't always come true!

George Huitker & Junk Sculpture - Tiny Tin Town - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYu5bBHTKSE

Roxette have released the 30th anniversary version of their album Crash! Boom! Bang! We were fortunate enough to see them here in Canberra on their tour for this album. I remember very much not wanting to go and then being blown away at how much of a rock and roll band they were in a live setting. The second disc in the set, as is their habit for these re-releases, contains a ton of demo versions of album tracks. Roxette demos are a LOT of fun and in some cases I like them more than the polished final versions. I also enjoy hearing ideas that didn't quite make the final cut. 

Roxette - Lies (T&A demo May 14, 1993) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQ_aERmkNco

Hayseed Dixie have released their 2024 Christmas single. It doesn't disappoint. If you like bluegrass you'll like this. If you have a sense of humour you'll like this. Don't say "humbug" and pass it by. Smiling is good for you.

Hayseed Dixie - YMCA - https://youtu.be/RKSjGLCcbi4

For the longest time, Tool have been a band I've thought I should like. I struggle to 'feel' most songs with non-traditional time signatures and maybe this is part of the block. I'd much rather not be stuck in a 4/4 or 3/4 world though so I'm trying to get my head around some different stuff. Try this one folks, it's almost 12 minutes long and I hate to think how many time changes are in it. The guitar sounds here are magnificent.

Tool - Pneuma - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ClCaPmAA7s

I was going to write a fair bit about the Pearl Jam show that DJ Hamertime and I attended just one night after I flew back in from the USA. It's pretty much all been said so here's the short version oy my observations. I was very disappointed that neither support band had merchandise on sale. The Cosmic Psychos played the best 25 minutes I've seen from a live band in a while. The Pixies were dreadful and quite boring. Pearl Jam clearly love to play and care for their fans. That is all.

The Cosmic Psychos - Nice Day To Go To The Pub - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzfVLVtPlzQ

That'll do. Meanwhile the countdown to the end of the year continues. Stay safe and avoid the shops.

The Woozle

"...and I turned 21 in prison doing life without parole..."

World Wide Woozle episode #635

Hello enormous listening world! Yes, that's right, I am back! Five weeks off work including four in the USA was fabulous.

This episode will be all about my time away so if a glorified travelogue isn't of interest to you then feel free to move on (I won't be too offended) and wait for the next episode.

Firstly, I do recognise that people go on holidays (that's vacation to all y'all in America) quite regularly. I don't though. This journey was my first time in the USA, my longest trip ever, my first time in the Northern Hemisphere since 1979, and the most time I've had off work since 2014. It was a big deal to me. I was very nervous about being away from home, travelling alone, and dealing with food. Obviously I have made it home so I survived. I can assure you that I learned a lot about myself in the process.

What I won't do here is mention every single thing I did. That'd be long and boring for everyone. I can read my travel journal anytime I like. If something does interest you then please feel free to talk to me about it. I'm also not going to talk about politics even though I was in the USA during the election. It's their decision and other than saying that we, as Australians, seemed MUCH more interested in the whole thing than 90% of Americans I came into contact with, I'll leave it at that. If you want to ask me about it feel free to drop me a line.

Thoughts on getting around:
It's a long way from Sydney to Dallas. 14 hours on the way there and 17 on the way back. Why is there more leg room on a budget USA domestic airline that then is on a QANTAS Dreamliner? QANTAS service was great but I really felt quite claustrophobic when the person in front of me reclined their seat for almost the whole trip (both ways). Southwest Airlines in the USA are excellent, American Airlines were horrendous. I took a lot of Ubers and they were easy and reliable. I rode the bus a bit in Nashville which was pretty convenient and cheap. The Amtrak from Atlanta to Birmingham was the way to travel; I loved it. In every town except Memphis I walked almost everywhere. In DC I was doing about 20km a day. It's a great way to see and feel the surroundings that you don't get in a car. And then there was driving. On the other side of the road. The night before picking up the hire car in Nashville I was very stressed. Then they gave me a lime green vehicle so that I had no chance of blending in. Then it was straight onto a four or five lane freeway. There was no soundtrack as I needed to concentrate hard. But it was fun and not nearly as difficult as I had imagined.

Washington DC
My first stop. I was extremely fortunate to be able to stay with my mate Darren who has had a few postings to the USA. This helped me ease into my time away. I started way too hard and was tired out in a few days. Learning to pace myself was important. I saw a lot of DC's Smithsonian Museums and the highlights were Leadbelly's 12 string guitar and also the Postal Museum. Arlington was a sobering reminder of the cost of war but also a window into the American psyche. Sutto took me to eat at a diner, to see the Space Shuttle, Blackbird and Enola Gay, to the NFL, to Ben's Chilli (yum) and to The Fillmore in Silver Springs to see King Diamond. I thoroughly enjoyed walking a long way and my quiet sojourn around Teddy Roosevelt Island and Georgetown was sublime.

Rob and Sutto at the Udar-Hazy Center. 

Nashville TN
I had a groovy AirBNB in a quiet neighbourhood. The supermarket was close by and this helped me feel more at ease with the food situation. To be honest though, I was doing so much walking that I could've eaten almost anything! I lost weight on this trip and that wasn't my plan at all. In Nashville I got to play my dream guitar (Gibson Everly Brothers J-180E) at the Gibson Garage, toured the iconic Ryman Auditorium, went to a show at the Grand Old Opry, and got my VISA card blocked by trying to buy clothes. I also had a massage as my back was tight from all the walking and travelling. The masseur told me he was a big Kath and Kim fan! Nashville was busy but friendly and felt safe.

The Grand Old Opry

Tupelo MS
After driving along the fabulous Natchez Trace Parkway (that's something I'd go back to in a heartbeat) I saw Elvis' birthplace. The house he was born in is there as well as the church he first sang in and the memorial chapel built after his death. It's well set up and worth a visit.

The pina colada with wheels

The church where Elvis first sang in public at age eight

Memphis TN
I drove to Memphis, filled up at a very dodgy gas station (thanks Google Maps) and dumped the car at the airport. In the Uber to my accommodation I started to worry; Memphis looked pretty rough and run down. I wasn't wrong. Although I stayed in a nice area (Cooper-Young) I wasn't prepared to do the amount of walking and exploring I'd done in DC and Nashville. The best thing I did here was take my mate Barry's advice and book onto a bus tour of the main sights. It was a lot of fun with the tour guide singing and playing guitar. We finished up with a tour of the iconic Sun Studios where, along with all the really cool Elvis and Johnny Cash stuff there was U2's drum kit from the Rattle and Hum sessions sitting on the studio floor. Graceland was impressive and I spent ages there (it was also an expensive outing compared to almost everything else) but, I didn't feel the Elvis connection I was hoping for. No matter, that feeling had been there in Tupelo. Also in Memphis, literally at the end of my street, was a great toys and collectables shop and a vegan restaurant. I spent ages in the toy place talking about action figures, Australian music and a whole lot more. I'd felt a bit alone and upset in Memphis and this helped to turn it around.

Some of the gold records at Graceland

Mesquite NV
My mate Doug lives in Mesquite with his wife Molly and two little dogs, Izzy and Tiff. I'd met him twice in Australia years ago and he'd stayed with us in Canberra on his visits. We spent just long enough in Las Vegas for me to get my suitcase and load it into his Jeep! Mesquite is in the desert and is a great town. It was super clean and friendly. We saw KC and The Sunshine Band play in an outdoor amphitheatre, went to dinner at one of the local casinos, viewed the Veterans Day Parade, had a family dinner and did a late night car park  deal for a used guitar! Doug took me to the Valley of Fire State Park which was simply stunning. We saw petroglyphs, amazing rock formations, longhorn sheep, and a vastness of landscape that took my breath away. I would say it was almost life changing but there was more to come. Doug packed up his Jeep and we headed to California and into the Mojave Desert. We looked at old mining sites, graveyards, abandoned vehicles, dynamite bunkers and more. And we stayed in an old miner's hut feasting on MREs (those American ones are pretty good). The desert at night and in the day was a trip. The terrain and the colours changed, there were Joshua Trees everywhere and the sky went on forever.

Brothers. Mojave Desert sunset.

Atlanta GA
To be honest, I only went to Atlanta because it was the cheapest flight back east from Vegas close to my destination. It turned out to be a great place to stay for a couple of nights. I was in a tiny house and tiny was the operative word. But it was clean, cosy and had everything I needed including a cat that sat outside and demanded love. The Atlanta Freedom Trail was a beautiful and well maintained walking path that took me quite a long way. It also took me to the Jimmy Carter Presidential Archive and Museum. I don't know if people have favourite presidents but he's been mine for years.

  

Jimmy and I

The tiny house

Birmingham AL
In planning this trip I'd really wanted to take a long train journey but fitting one in turned out to be problematic. I rode the Amtrak from Atlanta to Birmingham which takes about four hours. The seats, in coach class, are as good as business class on a plane. I almost had a whole carriage to myself and the staff were very friendly. Train travel is the bomb. It's not too fast, you can get up and walk around and then there's the view. After leaving Atlanta I travelled almost due west. We only stopped once, in Anniston. The track goes through a lot of forests but is never far from a road. Passing through small towns was excellent. You get a whole different perspective of the USA this way here as well as being able to look into people's backyards. Birmingham itself was very, very quiet. I went to the Civil Rights Institute which, although it was closing early, was a sobering reminder of days gone by. It wasn't all doom and gloom though and a really positive outlook I thought. Somehow I'd jagged a hotel with breakfast included. Cognisant of the fact that weight had been falling off me for the last few weeks I thoroughly enjoyed myself as did the ladies in charge of the buffet!

  

Desperado waiting for a train...

Huntsville AL

My friend Keith aka BDK came and got me from Birmingham and drove me to Huntsville. But not before we'd visited his place to say hi to Charley the HUGE labrador. We also went for a slap up lunch before heading off. Southern hospitality really is a thing and I felt very privileged to be on the end of some. I've known BDK since the late 90s but we'd never met in person. You would've thought we were lifelong friends. In Huntsville we met up with my mate Dave aka Tanker. Maggie, whose wedding I was to attend, is his daughter. Dave and his wife Rita had organised for me to stay with Father Bill who was also officiating at the wedding. Huntsville was pretty cool. It's the biggest city in Alabama and has a very large military base. Dave took me there to look at a whole heap of NASA rockets on display as well as showing me around the area. My lasting impressions are of wide streets, big yards and people who wave and say hi. I did a couple of great long walks in the Monte Sano Preserve and the peace and quiet so close to town was good for my soul. The wedding was great and seeing Maggie and her fiance Chris tie the knot was a special moment. Everyone made me feel like part of the family which was wonderful. Father Bill took care of me and I took care of some of his IT problems!

  

Me with (L-R) Tanker, BDK, Chris and Maggie

So there you have it. The super-abridged version of what I got up to. Looking back I packed a lot into a few weeks away. I learned that I need to pace myself and that just because food worries me, I must not simply avoid eating. I also faced the realities of travelling alone. Most of the time it was fine and clearly I broke it up by meeting, and staying with, some people I knew. The roughly ten days in a row on my own in Nashville / Tupelo / Memphis was too long though and I felt it. Lesson learned. Even meeting someone for a coffee would've sorted that out. I was extremely stressed about driving on the other side of the road but, with some deep breaths and giving myself a stern talking to, it turned out fine. 

I've written before about how the Army took away my love of camping and the outdoors. This trip really rammed home to me that being outside in nature is something I really need in my life. I get plenty of it here in Canberra with some bushwalking and cycling. I do NOT need to sleep in a tent or on the ground ever again but some of the other options have become more and more appealing. Cities, in large doses, aren't my thing. I was happiest in the USA when I was in the forests and quieter parts. That's something to keep in mind for my next extended holiday. I wouldn't say I've caught the travel bug. I'm very happy being at home. I have, however, committed to a trip to Scotland in 2026. Time to start saving and planning!

Many of you will have seen lots of photos from me on Facebook. I'm dreadful at remembering to shoot pics at the best of times and I made a huge effort to do so whilst away and I'm glad I did. It's a good visual diary for me. I also kept a daily travel journal (thanks Suzy and Todd) which is full of good memories. I also seem to have accumulated quite a number of t-shirts!

Until next time, whenever that may be, rock on!

The Woozle

This song carried me across the country.